State of the Posters!

My favorite finished object was a 2 foot high by 2 1/2 foot long baby elephant that I made up as I went along. He was so precious! Done in charcoal grey with pearl grey underfoot and under ears parts... with his trunk turned up for good luck. I *really* wish I had kept him... but I made him for my son (who was quite young at the time) to send to his favorite actor, Sylvester Stallone because we had read something about his brother giving him stuffed African animals and how much he loved them. Matthew never even got a letter of acknowledgement from Stallone's assistant for the gift and letter that he sent. :o/

Many knitted toys and slippers, a few afghans, a couple of sweaters... one that I gave to my best friend years ago, the other that I ripped out because it was HUMONGOUS. Of course it was done without a pattern, so what did I expect?

Slowly working on a hat, and a scarf to give to Inn of the Good Shepherd in the nearby city for the needy. Unfortunately I can't knit for too long, and some days not at all.

There is a crocheted hooded scarf that I would like to get back to... when I find the pattern again. Somehow it got separated from the project itself.

The wheelchair lapghan that was the last thing I made for my Mom. It is covering the lap of her teddy bear sitting on the blanket box. The knitted clowns that I used to make, and of course the baby elephant that was sent off to Sylvester Stallone.

I don't remember anything that I detested making, off the top of my head. But after reading your comment about Homespun (and I think someone else... Nora?... mentioned not liking it too), I would think that I will avoid that/

Holy cow! You only learned to knit within this last year, and you have done all that stuff... including lacework? I am impressed!! I personally don't have a major accomplishment.. I haven't been knitting or crocheting much because of pains in my arms, wrists and fingers.. so I guess *anything* I manage to do is an accomplishment of some sort. ;o)

Sorry die-hard wool lovers.... I will always like my Red Heart acrylic yarn

*from WalMart*. It machine washes and dries very nicely and easily, so it works best for the kids toys that I like(d) to make... and that is helpful to the mothers of the kids owning them.

To do whatever, whenever I can... and give most of the items to the needy to keep warm.

Gemini

A lace tunic top from about two years ago -- one of my first lace projects, and one of those rare (for me) charmed projects where everything went right from beginning to end, without tinking.

Socks, but not much else due to a lot of time constraints.

None at the moment

Ditto -- anything lace

Ditto there too -- I still pick the stuff up when it's on sale and I need to make something for someone insists on no wool, and I always swear I'm not going to buy it again because I find it so hard to work with

The last year has been kind of a black hole for knitting, too many other priorities, so not many

Same here -- I discovered suri alpaca, and love it

Cascade 220 and, although it's not made any more, Naturally Merino & Fur (possum). Still got a fair amount of stash in that.

Not much for the last year

Hopefully to have more time to do it. And intarsia

1. List your finished objects, or just list your favorite FO: cardigan sweater from a Dale pattern for my oldest DGD some time ago - still in use by the younger sister
2. WIP cabled vest for DH
3. Skeletons in knitting basket almost done cotton sweater that would require DH to gain about 75 pounds which is highly unlikely. Not wild about the idea of ripping it out and starting over .
4. Favorite project wool and alpaca celtic cardigan for me
5. Project I will never knit again hmmm. not sure - nothing comes to mind. Maybe I am a glutton for punishment I won't ever use Peruvian Collection Cuzco again, though - made a top with it and hate the stuff.
6. Major knitting accomplishment last year Sirdal pullover
7. Favorite yarn last year Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran

8.Favorite yarn overall Still like Dale Baby Ull best

1. Knitting techniques Cheating here - learned to crochet enough to actually make something other than hotpads and granny squares
2. Goals for 2006 entrelac (have a sweater kit for DGD#3 that I should do or will have to find new wearer )

Hi Gemini,

Yes, it was me who hates Homespun with a passion. It's on sale this week at AC Moore and I wouldn't even touch the stuff. Now is it my imagination or is all Lion Brand yarn without a pull skein? Seems that the Jiffy that I love doesn't have it.

Hugs,

Nora

I'm with you there. I ordered some in charcoal last year and made the shawl with it. Talk about horrible yarn, even though it's alpaca! Did you write Elann and tell them you hated it? I did, and although they acknowledged my e-mail, I noticed they had that crap on sale again later in the year.

It's lovely and soft, but looks like sh*t when it's knitted up. I now use the shawl as a very expensive cover that hangs in front of the fish tank in the livingroom so they can sleep at night if I still have the lights on. In fact, I'll post a picture of it on my Yahoo album and supply the link a little later tonight.

Shelagh

Thank you Shelagh. I was going to buy some!

1. List your finished objects, or just list your favorite FO:

My pink laceweight kid mohair shawl. The pattern is in the Knitter's Stash book, and is called Meadow Flowers. One other FO I'm very proud of is the beautiful Aran sweater I knit for my DIL 3 years ago.

1. List your works in progress:

Peacock Feathers Shawl from Fiddlesticks, done in Crystal Palace Kid Merino. It's going to be beautiful. I'm also working on a lacy vest for me in plummy raspberry rayon chenille.

1. What skeletons are in your knitting basket?

None

1. What's your favorite project?

The Pink Meadow Flowers shawl. First laceweight shawl I've done, and it was easier than I thought it would be, so that's why I'm now doing the Peacock Feathers shawl

1. What project(s) will you never knit again?

Anything made with the Peruvian Collection Cuzco. The most horrible natural fibre yarn I've ever used. Bleah, ick.

1. What was your major knitting accomplishment for the last year?

The pink Meadow Flowers shawl

1. What's your favorite yarn from the last year?

Any nice laceweight kid mohair yarn. Again - the pink Meadow Flowers shawl. It's very, very soft, light and cozy.

1. What's your favorite yarn overall?

Not totally sure yet, but Rowan Kid Silk Haze comes to mind. (drool). After that, any good, less expensive 100% wool that will felt well. I really like felting.

1. What new knitting techniques have you learned?

Reading charts - which I HATE, but really had to for the Aran sweater. Learning to knit an Aran. Lace knitting. 3 needle bind off.

1. What are your knitting goals for 2006?

Finish the Peacock Feathers shawl and the lacy vest.... I also have a bunch of Philosopher's Wool, and want to make a Scandinavian style sweater with it. (It's wonderful when friends de-stash!). I want to reduce the size of my stash so I can buy more yarn!!!!! (demented giggle here).

Shelagh

Dennis - YMMV, but here are two posters giving you an honest opinion of it. There are other alpaca yarns out there that are much nicer, and worth your attention and money. I think it looks quite "ratty" knitted up. I originally started it in Elann's pattern, but hated it so much, I made up my own pattern. I don't like it any better. ;>P. I like most yarns, and haven't had such a negative reaction to one before.

Shelagh

Somewhere I read that large size sweaters for men are likely to sell faster than anything else at a charity benefit sale. Maybe you could finish it and donate it. (Could even be tax-deductible.)

=Tamar

Judy i haven`t read your original ,,,, but i found that when i strated this [new[ blue sweater i was Bigger ,,, now i lost CMs everywhere sweater is a bit wide , but i don`t mind and wear it anyway as a nice big cloud ,,, By the way , you could Zigzag the sides and Cut parts out of the sweater ... mirjam

Shillelagh said "1. List your finished objects, or just list your favorite FO:

My pink laceweight kid mohair shawl. The pattern is in the Knitter's Stash book, and is called Meadow Flowers. "

I have that book and have admired that shawl - nice to know that it worked out well for you. So far I have only looked at the patterns - haven't made any of them yet. I seem to have a lot of projects in mind at the moment.

Here's my list: (do we get graded?)

1. List your finished objects, or just list your favorite FO.

Favorite: ?sweatshirt? type sweater for son Nick using Wool-ease chunky in heather green. Others: Venus shrug for DIL Mary using Lion brand super soft in a pale blue; 78? long ?Hogwort-type scarf for step grandson Lance in red and black; several pairs of 2-needle mittens; double moss st. scarf in Paton ?s Viking ? chocolate brown.

1. List your works in progress:

2 sweaters for step grand daughter Bella ? my own pattern, ls crew-neck set in sleeves using Red Heart Hokey Pokey in 6 shades, one single strand, one double strand using Sirdar off-white denim aran; patchwork/sampler blanket for my bro, using Lion wool-ease in heather earth-tones; fingerless gloves using Lion wool-ease natural; aran sweater Sirdar pattern and aran denim natural; scarf in split rib using Lion homespun.

1. What skeletons are in your knitting basket?

15 yr old lacy blanket knit on diagonal ? needs the border, and son?s aran sweater, socks for me.

1. What's your favorite project?

Sampler blanket for brother, can?t wait to knit the Mission Falls Kerrin Shawl.

1. What project(s) will you never knit again?

I haven?t hated anything that much, to date.

1. What was your major knitting accomplishment for the last year?

Learning to make socks; completing several projects from start to finish in time for gifting; Kitchener cast off.

1. What's your favorite yarn from the last year?

Red Heart Hockey pokey.

1. What's your favorite yarn overall?

Can?t remember the name ? a cotton chunky in bright pink ? softest yarn I?ve used to date.

1. What new knitting techniques have you learned?

Learning to use circular and dpn?s, picking up stitches (didn?t know these were all so easy!)

1. What are your knitting goals for 2006? Learn intarsia, how to use charts, finish my aran sweater, finish all current WIP?s, knit Mission Falls Kerrin Shawl (for me), knit vest for Aunt Lottie.

"norabalcer" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

it has a pull skein, but you have to dig around in the guts & pull out a huge yarn barf to get at it. i'm not a huge fan of Lion brand yarns, but they're decent yarns for the 5 year old without breaking the bank (i can NOT take the kid to the LYS. he costs me too much! he *loves* fibers & Marci, the owner, 'helps' by showing him all the new stuff & letting him feel it). i'm making not-MIL a scarf using Baby Homespun & Patons Be Mine. i *hate* the Be Mine! really hard to work with, which is why i'm using it with the Baby Homespun. i can't knit it alone. the Be Mine didn't have obvious pull skeins either. lee

I have been knitting for decades and couldn't possibly list my finished objects! However, among my favourites are a mohair sweater which was the first thing I knitted that wasn't a scarf. That was in the sixties. THen, in the nineties, I knitted two christening gowns. I do a lot of Aran, and love that.

A Santa hat and sweater for Jesika. A fuzzy beret and pop-top mittens for a friend. Socks. 6x6 squares.

I have several. I have a partially done Hallowe'en cardigan for me from a Mary Maxim pattern. I have one of Lucy Neatby's sweaters started for me. (Rainbow Sheep, if you are interested) I have a sweater that my mother started for my husband just before she had a stroke, and she never finished. I need to find the pattern so I can do it for him.

ANything textured.

Can't rule out any.

I finally learned how to felt.

Paton's Classic wool and Sisu sock yarn

Don't really have one, as it depends on the project.

None recently.

TO do a bunch of Aran sweaters for grandkids.

Higs, Katherine